Eliminating Crawl Space Moisture

1. Find the Source

First, eliminate the source of the problem by determining how moisture
is getting into the space.

For example:

Is it a leak in the roof, siding or basement?

Has a pipe broken?

Are your floor drains backed up?

Do you live in an area with high humidity?

Thoroughly inspect your home from roof to basement to determine where the
water is getting in. When you figure out what the source is you will need
to correct it immediately. You may need to look into a contractor to assess
water damage. For pests, look no further and contact us at Preferred Pest
Control today! If the source is high humidity then looking into investing
in a humidifier is a great idea.

2. Cleanup

To clean the space you will want to remove any debris, junk and wet materials.
This is necessary in order to make the drying out process easier. Now
that the space is clear, remove any standing water. Depending on how much
water there is you might need to use a sump pump to pick up the water.
If there is any fungus present it is very important that you clean it
up before you start to use any airflow equipment like a dehumidifier.

In instances where pests are present, be sure to clean up any rodent or
other pest droppings as there may be a bacterial or viral hazard. You
can use a black light to spot any urine stains on surfaces including dirt
floors. If urine does exist on a dirt floor then it might be necessary
to remove the layers of contaminated soil. Sanitize any contaminated surfaces.
Then spread a plastic covering over dirt or gravel surfaces.

Remove any dead tree limbs around your house because this can be a source
for ants, termites, and beetles.

3. Keep the space dry with a dehumidifier

Once you’ve taken care of the water entry problem and any damage
issues, it is safe to start the drying process. You will want to figure
out what size humidifier is appropriate for the space and what type of
unit to purchase. This all depends on what kind of moisture problem you have.

If the problem is long-term because of high humidity then you might want
to consider installing a permanent crawlspace dehumidifier. In this case,
you’ll want to get a model with a continuous drain pump that you
can connect to a drainage system, so you won’t need to monitor a
water collection tank.

Otherwise, if your problem is more temporary, then a portable unit without
a pump will work just fine; it will be easier to maneuver and won’t
require installation. Use it until the humidity has reached a healthy
level — just be sure to empty the water collection tank periodically.

You want to maintain a good humidity level between 30% – 50%. Anything
above 50% is considered too high and can become a breeding ground for
pests and fungus.